Council members

The Mercy Partners Council currently comprises six members. The majority are appointed by the Stewards of Mercy Partners and the remainder by the council itself. The council answers directly to the Holy See.

Qualifications of councillors

To be appointed as a councillor, a person must:

be a practising member of the Roman Catholic Church

embody a sense of spirituality and mission

have an adequate understanding of the teachings, discipline, and laws of the Roman Catholic Church

comply with any other requirements including formation, business, and other commercial competencies specified in the Mercy Partners Constitution.

Current councillors

Dr Ricki Jeffery, Chair

Dr Jeffery was appointed to Mercy Partners Council in July 2014. She is the former Diocesan Director of Centacare: Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton and holds director positions on the Boards of Family Relationships Services Australia and Central Queensland Medicare Local. She previously held the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors of St Ursula’s College Ltd. Dr Jeffery brings to the Council a working knowledge of Education, Primary Health and Community Services delivery in regional areas with particular expertise in building capacity to meet challenges in a conscious and intentional way for ministries operating in regional Australia. She holds a professional doctorate in transdisciplinary studies.

Mr Daryl Hanly OAM

Mr Hanly completed fifty years as a teacher in 2014 and was appointed to Mercy Partners Council in May the following year. As an employee of Education Queensland for thirty-seven years, he served sixteen years as a principal of secondary schools. He then was the inaugural Director of the Education Department’s Centre for Leadership Excellence for five years. For two years Mr Hanly was Director of Education Queensland International, which experience exposed him to international contexts and a variety of leadership models. For the final thirteen years, he was the first lay Principal of St Joseph’s Nudgee College Brisbane, a Year 5-12. Catholic Boarding School for boys. During his career, Mr Hanly held a number of key executive positions at state and national levels, and currently chairs both the Stuartholme School Board, and the St Leo’s College Council.

Ms Dianne Hearn

Ms Hearn was appointed to Mercy Partners Council in July 2014 and was appointed Formation Committee Chair in January 2017. She has worked in education, adult faith formation and human resource management at a senior level in various Catholic organisations in Queensland and New South Wales. She has close associations with the Queensland Presentation Sisters and their ministries. Ms Hearn is currently a Director in Organisational Change Consultants and holds masters in education and business administration.

Mr Leslie Jones

Mr Jones was appointed to the council in December 2013. He is also Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee. As an Audit Partner with Grant Thornton from 1985 until 2002, Mr Jones audited all ministries and congregational activities of the Sisters of Mercy in Brisbane. He was one of the inaugural members of the All Hallows’ Advisory Committee and worked with the sisters for seven years regarding delegation of powers between the congregation, the committee and the principal, and was on the All Hallows’ Property Development Committee.

Mr Kieran McCarthy, Deputy Chair and Company Secretary

Mr McCarthy is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law with over twenty years experience and brings to Council strong networks throughout the state. He is managing partner of Rice Naughton McCarthy, one of Queensland's largest stand-alone specialist Family Law practices. He has been a Councillor for Mercy Partners since 2013, is liaison Councillor for St Rita's College, and has daughters at All Hallows' School.

Mr Patrick O'Sullivan

Mr O’Sullivan was appointed to Mercy Partners Council in November 2018. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer of St Vincent’s Care Services, which provides residential aged care, retirement village living and community care services to communities in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. He is a former Member of Centacare Brisbane Council, a former Director of Mt St Michael’s College and a former Company Secretary of Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital. Mr O’Sullivan brings to the Council a working knowledge of acute and sub-acute hospital, aged care and community care services delivery in metropolitan and regional areas.

Ms Jenny Parker

Ms Parker is the Oceania Advisory, Health & Life Sciences Leader and the Oceania Advisory Government and Public Sector – Human Services and Education Leader in EY and has been a partner with EY for over 17 years. She was appointed to Mercy Partners Council in 2017.